Combine clean grain elevator

ABSTRACT

A hillside-type combine has a main separator body and an elevated grain tank mounted on the main separator body in a laterally overhanging disposition. A laterally extending augertype conveyor collects the clean grain at the bottom of the body and feeds a first clean grain elevator, which extends upwardly alongside the body sidewall below the overhanging grain tank. The first clean grain elevator feeds a downwardly inclined chute which delivers the clean grain to a second elevator disposed outwardly of the first, the bottom end of the second elevator being substantially above the elevation of the bottom of the first clean grain elevator and delivering the grain upwardly along the lateral side of the grain tank to a grain tank loading system.

United States Patent Weakly 1 Feb. 22, 1972 [54] COMBINE CLEAN GRAINELEVATOR 211 Appl. No.: 73,048

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 736,795 6/1966 Canada 198/168 PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Frank E. WernerAttorney-H. Vincent Harsha, Harold M. Knoth, William A. Murray and JohnM. Nolan [5 7] ABSTRACT A hillside-type combine has a main separatorbody and an elevated grain tank mounted on the main separator body in alaterally overhanging disposition. A laterally extending augertypeconveyor collects the clean grain at the bottom of the body and feeds afirst clean grain elevator, which extends upwardly alongside the bodysidewall below the overhanging grain tank. The first clean grainelevator feeds a downwardly inclined chute which delivers the cleangrain to a second elevator disposed outwardly of the first, the bottomend of the second elevator being substantially above the elevation ofthe bottom of the first clean grain elevator and delivering the grainupwardly along the lateral side of the grain tank to a grain tankloading system.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures COMBINE CLEAN GRAIN ELEVATOR BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION This invention relates to an improved clean grain elevatorsystem and more particularly to a two-stage elevating system havingparticular utility on a hillside combine.

A modern combine typically has a main separator body with uprightsidewalls, the threshing and grain cleaning mechanism being disposedwithin the body between the sidewalls. It is conventional to provide alaterally extending conveyor below the grain cleaning mechanism andalong the bottom of the combine for collecting the clean grain fallingthrough the cleaning mechanism, the clean grain collecting conveyorgenerally being an auger-type conveyor. Many of the newer, largecapacity combines have an elevated unitary grain tank, and to providethe necessary grain tank capacity, such grain tanks generally have asubstantially greater width than the main separator body, so that thegrain tank overhangs the combine body on both sides. Such gain tanks aretypically loaded by a loading system extending inwardly from the side ofthe tank and fed by a chain and paddle-type elevator, which moves theclean grain from the discharge end of the clean grain collecting augerto the grain tank loading system.

Such an arrangement is shown in US. Pat. No. 3,503,533, issued 3l Mar.1970 to the assignee herein. As described in said patent, the cleangrain elevator is disposed a substantial distance outwardly from themain separator body sidewall. This arrangement provides room for theconventional drive components alongside of the body sidewall and alsopermits the feeding of the grain tank loading system adjacent thesidewall of the grain tank. This, of course, results in a substantiallateral extension of the clean grain collecting auger at the bottom ofthe combine. In a normal combine, this does not present a seriousproblem. However, in a hillside combine, when the combine is at or nearmaximum tilt with the clean grain elevator on the uphill side of themachine, there is insufficient clearance between the low end of theelevator and the ground.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a two-stageclean grain elevator is provided for moving the clean grain from theclean grain collecting conveyor at the bottom of the combine to thegrain tank loading system at the side of the grain tank. Morespecifically, the first stage of the clean grain elevator is disposedinwardly from the second stage to decrease the extension of the cleangrain collecting conveyor, so that the outer end of the clean graincollecting conveyor and the lower end of the clean grain elevator fedthereby are less likely to strike the ground or foreign objects disposedon the ground, particularly on a hillside-type combine when the elevatoris on the uphill side of the machine.

-Also according to the present invention, the first stage of the cleangrain elevator discharges into a downwardly and outwardly inclinedchute, which feeds the intake end of the second stage of the clean grainelevator, which is substantially above the level of the intake end ofthe first clean grain elevator.

An important feature of the invention resides in the arrangement of thechute between the two clean grain elevator stages, so that it dischargesinto the return channel of the chain and paddle-type elevator above thelower end of the second stage of the elevator, whereby the paddles inthe second elevator stage engage the grain on their downward strokerather than at the bottom of the elevator housing. As a result, thegrain discharged into the second stage of the elevator is kept movingand not allowed to rest in the bottom of the elevator housing, giving amore positive feed and preventing the elevator from plugging up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic rear view of aportion of a hillside combine including the improved clean grainelevator, the combine being shown in its maximum tilt condition.

FIG. 2 is a section showing the first stage of the clean grain elevator,as viewed generally along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section view of the second stage of the clean grainelevator, as viewed generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The invention is embodied in ahillside-type combine having a main separator body 10, only a portion ofwhich is schematically illustrated in FIG. 1. As is conventional, thebody is supported on vertically adjustable wheels through a levelingmechanism, such as shown in US. Pat. No. 2,904,341 issued 15 Sept. 1959to Heitshu, so that the body is maintained in a level condition eventhrough the combine is operating on a side slope. Only the right sidedrive wheel 12 is illustratedin FIG. 1 to show the relative location ofthe components when the combine is operating on a side slope, the groundline being identified by the numeral 14 and approximating the maximumslope conditions on which the leveling mechanism will maintain the body10 level.

As is conventional, the separator body 10 includes a pair of uprightsidewalls, only the right sidewall 16 being illustrated.

An elevated grain tank I8 is supported on' the body 10 and is of thegeneral construction shown in US. Pat. No. 3,503,533, also assigned toassignee herein. As described in said patent, the grain tank issubstantially wider than the body 10, so that it laterally overhangs thebody on both sides, the grain tank sidewalls being disposedsubstantially outwardly of the body side walls. Only the lower portionof the right grain tank sidewall 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1.

A conventional grain separating and cleaning mechanism is disposedwithin the body 10, and, as is also conventional, the clean grain fallsfrom the cleaning mechanism to a location at the bottom of the combinebody, wherein it is collected in a transversely extending, auger-typeclean grain collecting conveyor 22. The auger-type conveyor 22 includesan auger 24, which spans the separator body 10 and extends laterallythrough the combine right sidewall 16, the outer portion of the augerrotating in a cylindrical tube 26 which communicates with and terminatesin a hopper 28 spaced from the right sidewall. The conveyor 22 moves thegrain laterally through the combine sidewall and discharges it into thehopper 28, which feeds a clean grain elevator, indicated in its entiretyby the numeral 30. The elevator elevates the grain to a grain tankloading'system (not shown), such as shown in the assignee's US. Pat. No.3,503,533.

The clean grain elevator 30 is a two-stage elevator and includes a firstelevator stage 32. The first stage is a well known chain and paddle-typeelevator and includes a hollow, elongated generally upright housing 34,having a generally rectangular cross section. The bottom of the housingcommunicates with and is fed by the hopper 28 and the upper dischargeend 36 of the housing has a forwardly facing discharge opening. Adivider member or plate 38 extends longitudinally within the housing 34and divides the housing into an elevator or crop delivery channel 40 anda return channel 42. As is conventional, a chain 44 carries rectangularpaddles 46 and rotates around a pair of sprockets 48 at the upper andlower end of the divider plate 38, so that the paddles 46 more upwardlywithin the grain elevating channel 40 and downwardly within the returnchannel 42, only the lower sprocket48 being illustrated. Thus, as thegrain is discharged from the conveyor 22 into the hopper 28, it isengaged by the paddles 46 and elevated along the channel 40 until itreaches the upper discharge end 36 of the housing 34, at which time itis projected tangentially forwardly through the discharge opening as thechain moves around the upper sprocket.

A hollow conveyor duct 50, also having a rectangular cross section, isinclined downwardly and laterally outwardly from the discharge end 36 ofthe first elevator housing, the duct 50 receiving the grain moving fromthe discharge end of the first elevator and directing it downwardlythrough a discharge opening 52 to a second elevator stage 54.

The second elevator stage like the first is a chain and paddle-typeconveyor and includes a hollow, elongated, generally upright housing 56having an arcuate bottom 58 and a discharge end adjacent the top of thegrain tank sidewall 16 as described in said U.Sv Pat. No. 3,503,533. Thesecond elevator stage housing 56 is also separated by a divider plate 60into elevator and return channels 62 and 64 and has a chain 66, whichcarries a number of rectangular paddles 68 and moves around sprockets 70at the upper and lower end of the divider plate, the paddles, of course,conforming to the cross section of the elevator channel 62. As isapparent, the discharge opening 52 of the duct 50 communicates with thereturn channel 64 well above the arcuate bottom 58 of the housing 56, sothat grain falling from the opening 52 is positively engaged during thedownward or return run of the paddles well in advance of the bottom ofthe housing. This arrangement keeps the grain moving and reduces thechance of the grain accumulating in the bottom 58 of the housing 54 toplug the conveyor.

The upper sprocket of the second elevator stage 54 is driven in theconventional manner, as shown in US. Pat. No. 3,503,533, while the firstelevator stage 32 and the conveyor 22 are driven by a belt 72 trainedaround a sheave 74 on the shaft of the lower sprocket 48, a sheave 76 onthe shaft of the auger 24, and a sheave 78 on the shaft of the lowersprocket 48 of the first elevator stage, the sheave 74 of course beingthe drive sheave since the lower sprocket 70 is driven by the chain 66.

In operation, the conveyor 22 moves the grain laterally through thecombine sidewall 16 and discharges it into the hopper 28, wherein it isengaged by the paddles 46 of the first clean grain elevator stage 32 andelevated along the elevator channel 40 to the upper discharge end 36 ofthe first elevator stage, through which it is projected forwardly andinto the duct 50. The force of gravity on the grain moves the graindownwardly through the duct 50 and through discharge open ing 52 intothe return channel 64 of the second elevator stage, wherein it isengaged by the paddles 68 and moved along the arcuate bottom 58 of thesecond elevator stage housing and thence upwardly along the elevatorchannel 62 for discharge to the grain tank loading system. As isapparent from FIG. 1, the bottom 58 of the outer second elevator stageis substantially above the level of the bottom of the first stage sothat there is sufficient clearance between the elevators and the groundduring sidehill operation of the combine. As is also ap parent, theabove-described arrangement also reduces the lateral extension of theconveyor 22.

lclaim:

1. ln a combine having a main, separator body with opposite uprightsidewalls, a separating and cleaning mechanism within the body, a cleangrain collecting conveyor extending laterally along a lower portion ofthe body and through one of the sidewalls for moving clean grain fromthe cleaning mechanism and having a discharge end exteriorally of saidsidewall, an elevated grain tank mounted on the body in a laterallyoverhanging disposition and having opposite sides disposed outwardly ofthe body sidewalls, the improvement comprising: a first clean grainelevator extending upwardly adjacent to a body sidewall and having alower intake end in grain-receiving relationship with the discharge endof the clean grain-collecting conveyor and a higher discharge end; asecond clean grain elevator spaced outwardly from the first clean grainelevator and having a lower intake end and an elevated discharge end;and connecting means between the discharge end of the first clean grainelevator and the second clean grain elevator for conveying the grainfrom the first to the second elevator.

2. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting means betweenthe clean grain elevators comprises a duct having an inlet communicatingwith the discharge end of the first clean grain elevator and an outletcommunicating with the second clean grain elevator.

3. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the elevators are chain andpaddle-type elevators, each elevator including a housing with elevatinand return channels substantially extending the length of t e conveyorand respectively enclosing elevating and return runs of the chains andpaddles.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the first elevator housingincludes a discharge housing portion at the upper end of the elevatorand the connecting means includes a duct having an inlet endcommunicating with said discharge housing portion of the first elevatorand an outlet communicating with the return channel of the secondelevator.

5. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein the combine is ahillside-type combine wherein the attitude of the body relative to theground about a fore-and-aft axis is changeable during the operation ofthe machine on hillsides so that the clearance between the lower ends ofthe first and second elevators is reduced when the elevators are on theuphill side of the combine.

6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the entire first clean grainelevator is disposed below the overhanging portion of the grain tank. 6

1. In a combine having a main separator body with opposite uprightsidewalls, a separating and cleaning mechanism within the body, a cleangrain collecting conveyor extending laterally along a lower portion ofthe body and through one of the sidewalls for moving clean grain fromthe cleaning mechanism and having a discharge end exteriorally of saidsidewall, an elevated grain tank mounted on the body in a laterallyoverhanging disposition and having opposite sides disposed outwardly ofthe body sidewalls, the improvement comprising: a first clean grainelevator extending upwardly adjacent to a body sidewall and having alower intake end in grain-receiving relationship with the discharge endof the clean grain-collecting conveyor and a higher discharge end; asecond clean grain elevator spaced outwardly from the first clean grainelevator and having a lower intake end and an elevated discharge end;and connecting means between the discharge end of the first clean grainelevator and the second clean grain elevator for conveying the grainfrom the first to the second elevator.
 2. The invention defined in claim1 wherein the connecting means between the clean grain elevatorscomprises a duct having an inlet communicating with the discharge end ofthe first clean grain elevator and an outlet communicating with thesecond clean grain elevator.
 3. The invention defined in claim 1 whereinthe elevators are chain and paddle-type elevators, each elevatorincluding a housing with elevating and return channels substantiallyextending the length of the conveyor and respectively enclosingelevating and return runs of the chains and paddles.
 4. The inventiondefined in claim 3 wherein the first elevator housing includes adischarge housing portion at the upper end of the elevator and theconnecting means includes a duct having an inlet end communicating withsaid discharge housing portion of the first elevator and an outletcommunicating with the return channel of the second elevator.
 5. Theinvention defined in claim 3 wherein the combine is a hillside-typecombine wherein the attitude of the body relative to the ground about afore-and-aft axis is changeable during the operation of the machine onhillsides so that the clearance between the lower ends of the first andsecond elevators is reduced when the elevators are on the uphill side ofthe combine.
 6. The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the entirefirst clean grain elevator is disposed below the overhanging portion ofthe grain tank.